The 49,000-square-foot store, which sits on the grounds of a former high school, will use 40 percent less energy than a comparable, non-LEED building because of high-performance refrigeration, lighting and heating, ventillation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that use renewable energy sources to help light, warm and cool the site, the story stated.

Hannaford''s Director of Design Fred Conlogue said: "There are a lot of firsts here. Other supermarkets in the Delhaize Group''s 169-store Hannaford chain incorporate green building elements. But none has as many as the new Augusta store."

Sustainable aspects of America''s greenest supermarket include: A GreenChill Refrigeration system that captures heat from coolers and uses it to warm the store; a 41-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system — the largest in the State of Maine; 50 skylights to maximize natural light; two 750-foot deep geothermal wells on the property to help regulate the temperature in the store; low-flow fixtures; and energy efficient light bulbs, the story noted.

Nearly every aspect of the supermarket is environmentally friendly, including the 7,000-square-foot green roof that aids in insulating the building and reducing storm water runoff, the story added.